Wooden pole having plastic pole top cover with preservative



Nov. 14, 1967 G. T. ROBBINS ET AL 3,352,581

WOODEN POLE HAVING PLASTIC POLE TOP COVER WITH PRESERVATIVE Filed Dec. 24, 1964 s ilgA 5 n 171: Fla. is 9'8 l'l nb INVENTOR P058121- L. WARE GEQRGE T Qoasms ATTORNEYS United States Patent Ofifice 3,352,581 Patented Nov. 14, 1967 WOODEN POLE HAVING PLASTIC POLE TOP COVER WITH PRESERVATIVE George T. Robbins, 207 Jackson Ave., Colonial Heights,

Va. 23834, and Robert L. Ware, 8604 Oakcroft Drive, Richmond, Va. 23229 Filed Dec. 24, 1964, Ser. No. 421,057

2 Claims. (Cl. 287-2035) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A pole top cover of electrically non-conductive material for protecting wooden poles from the adverse ele ments, wherein the cover is provided with a'preservative compound disposed on the interior surface thereof.

This invention relates in general to covers for the tops of wooden poles and in part to pole top covers embodying means by which a preservative is maintained within cover after the cover has been placed at the top of the pole.

Large users of wooden poles, such as power and telephone companies, have for sometime been aware of the fact that the life of wooden poles could be greatly increased by providing some sort of a cover for the top most surface of the pole. A pole which is uncovered at its top is subjected to excessive weathering in which the sun, by its harmful rays striking the pole, tends to dry all the moisture out of the pole at its top causing severe checking of the wood. Additionally certain fungi are known to inhabit dryed out poles and to cause rot therein. Once a rotting or decaying action has taken place at the top of a pole large areas are left open to the entrance of water and other elements, which will further enhance the decaying process. During a period of freezing and thawing weather any water which may be present within the decayed area of the pole will expand and contract in such a manner to cause excessive checking and splitting of the wood fibers. As this action is continued the splits are greatly exaggerated in a short period of time thereby necessitating the periodic removal of the poles before the termination of what should be their useful life.

A type of pole top cover that is in wide current use is that of a thin metal sheet, preferably of aluminum or copper, which is placed atop the pole and then bent around the top and downwardly along the sides of the pole to achieve the correct shape. This type of cover is normally nailed into place to prevent easy removal by the elements. While this method is relatively cheap, it provides serious drawbacks because a metal cover may cause TV and radio interference detrimental to the persons living nearby. It is also obvious that such a cover will not retain between its under interior surface and the pole top a preservative compound. Most preservative compounds tend to migrate upon the application of heat, thereby dripping from underneath the cover.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a pole top cover overcoming the above noted deficiencies.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a pole top cover made of a material that will not cause electrical interference in any application.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a pole top cover which is adapted to maintain between it self and the top of a wooden pole a wood preservative compound and to prevent migration of such a compound due to certain weathering elements.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a pole top cover which has ease of manufacture, is simple to use, and yet is extremely economical.

Other objects, advantages and capabilities of the invention will become apparent from the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings showing only a preferred embodiment of the invention.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the pole top cover of the present invention shown inverted and partially filled with a preservative compound;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view showing the pole top cover just before it is placed upon a wooden pole;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view showing the pole top cover properly in place and secured to a wooden pole;

FIGURE 4 is a vertical section view taken along lines 4-4 of FIGURE 3; and

FIGURE 5 is a horizontal section view taken along lines 5-5 of FIGURE 4.

Referring to the drawings wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several figures, the pole top cover of the present invention is generally designated by the reference character 16. The cover 10 comprises a flat disc-like body 11 having at its outer most periphery a depending annular band 12, which projects perpendicularly from the disc body 11 a distance suitable to perform its intended use for the present invention. In order to afiix the cover to a suitable wooden pole, indicated by numeral 13, there is provided depending from the annular band 12 a plurality of tabs 14 through which the person installing the pole top cover 10 may drive ordinary roofing nails 15 into the pole 13.

On the interior surface of the disc body 11, which surface is generally denoted by the fact that is a surface encompassed'by the depending annular band 12 and further indicated by the numeral 16, there is provided a plurality of raised annular rings 17a and 17b. As shown by FIGURE 4 these rings are, when the pole cover It is in position, in contact with the upper surface 18 of the pole 13. It is anticipated that the height of the raised annular rings 17a and 17b should be approximately of an inch to /8 of an inch above the interior surface 16 of the pole top cover.

Since the primary purpose of the present invention is the preserving of the upper surfaces of wooden poles, it is anticipated that a suitable preservative compound would be placed upon the interior surface 16 in such a manner that it thoroughly covers the entire surface. It should also be placed to a depth at least as deep as the raised annular rings 17a and 17b and also flush with the tops thereof. The proper preservative compound used in this manner would be effective in preventing moisture from entering the top of the pole 13 and also effective in destroying any fungi that may be present or that could develop in the pole. The preservative compound noted by numeral 19 should be of a coal tar derivative being highly toxic to common wood fungi. It has been found that one suitable compound which may be used with the cover of the present invention is Elastigum, a bituminous roofing compound produced by the Barrett Division of Allied Chemical Company. This particular compound has no preservative ingredients but may be used to prevent moisture from gaining entrance to the pole top. A pair of suitable preservatives are Woodtreat AA manufactured by Wood Treating Chemical Company, and Pole-Nu manufactured by the Chapman Chemical Company. The latter two preservatives each contain pentachlorophenol and are well recognized preservatives for the application for which the present cover will be used.

Once the preservative 19 has been spread upon the inten'or surface 16 the cover 10 is then placed upon the pole top in the manner shown in FIGURES 2, 3, and 4 and securely afiixed thereto by driving the roofing nails 15 through the depending tabs 14 and thence into the wooden pole 13.

As seen from FIGURE 4, the placement of the annular rings 17a and 17b are such that the rings are in contact with the upper surface 18 of the pole. The annular rings have a two-fold purpose in that they provide spacing between the pole top 18 and the interior surface 15 for the placement of the preservative 19, and they also provide a barrier to the migration of the preservative from the top of the pole to the exterior of the cover. When the rays of the sun impinge upon the cover the preservative will necessarily acquire a somewhat fluid condition which might allow it to migrate from underneath the pole cover and be needlessly expended. Without the cover or the annular rings the solvent or carrier of the toxic agent of the preservative 19 will evaporate leaving a residue which will in time harden, crack and allow water to pass through.

The cover 10 is necessarily of an electrically non-conductive material to prevent the aforesaid TV and radio interference. The cover is preferably of a molded plastic containing not more than percent carbon fill to render it black in color and opaque to the harmful rays of the SUH.

It is also anticipated that the covers may be made in various diameters to fit the standard size wooden poles now in use. Generally each size class of wooden poles have diameter tolerances at the upper end which are known and for which a particular cover may be designed. It is a very easy procedure to change plastic mold to effect the molding of various sizes of the covers of the present invention to fit each size class of wooden poles.

It is seen that the present invention will eliminate the problems enumerated above and will provide a long sought after solution to the problem of protecting the tops of wooden poles and as aby-product will prevent TV and radio interference associated with metal covers of the prior art.

While I have particularly shown and described one particular embodiment of the invention, it is distinctly understood that the invention is not limited thereto but that modifications may be made within the scope of the invention and such variations as are covered by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A pole top cover of electrically non-conductive material for protecting wooden poles from the adverse elements comprising, a flat disc-like body provided at its outer peripheral rim with an annular depending band,

means associated with the band for affixing the cover to a wooden pole including a plurality of downwardly depending flanges adapted to rest against the exterior of the wooden pole so that fastening means may be inserted therethrough at desired times, the disc-like body having a top surface and an interior surface, the interior surface lying within the confines of the depending annular band, spacer means located in conjunction with the interior surface of the disc-like body adapted to maintain the interior surface spaced from the pole top when the cover is in place, the spacer means being a plurality of concentric uninterrupted raised annular rings projecting from the interior surface of the disc-like body and a preservative disposed on said interior surface.

2. In combination, a wooden pole having a circular head portion, a pole top cover of electrically non-conductive material for use with preservative compounds in protecting wooden poles from the adverse elements comprising, a flat disc-like body provided at its outer peripheral rim with an annular depending band, means associated with the band for afiixing the cover to a wooden pole including a plurality of downwardly depending flanges adapted to rest against the exterior of the wooden pole so that fastening means may be inserted therethrough at desired times, the disc-like body having a top surface and an interior surface, the interior surface lying within the confines of the depending annular band, spacer means located in conjunction with the interior surface of the disclike body adapted to maintain the interior surface spaced from the pole top when the cover is in place, the spacer means being a plurality of concentric uninterrupted raised. annular rings projecting from the interior surface of the disc-like body, a preservative compound positioned between the interior surface of the disc-like body and the circular head portion of the pole, the annular rings being in contact with the circular head portion of the pole to prevent migration of the preservative compound.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS CARL w. TOMLIN, Primary Examiner.

R. S. BRITTS, Assistant Examiner. 

2. IN COMBINATION, A WOODEN POLE HAVING A CIRCULAR HEAD PORTION, A POLE TOP COVER OF ELECTRICALLY NON-CONDUCTIVE MATERIAL FOR USE WITH PRESERVATIVE COMPOUNDS IN PROTECTING WOODEN POLES FROM THE ADVERSE ELEMENTS COMPRISING, A FLAT DISC-LIKE BODY PROVIDED AT ITS OUTER PRRIPHERAL RIM WITH AN ANNULAR DEPENDING BAND, MEANS ASSOCIATED WITH THE BAND FOR AFFIXING THE COVER TO A WOODEN POLE INCLUDING A PLURALITY OF DOWNWARDLY DEPENDING FLANGES ADAPTED TO REST AGAINST THE EXTERIOR OF THE WOODEN POLE SO THAT FASTENING MEANS MAY BE INSERTED THERETHROUGH AT DESIRED TIMES, THE DISC-LIKE BODY HAVING A TOP SURFACE AND AN INTERIOR SURFACE, THE INTERIOR SURFACE LYING WITHIN THE CONFINES OF THE DEPENDING ANNULAR BAND, SPACER MEANS LOCATED IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE INTERIOR SURFACE OF THE DISCLIKE BODY ADAPTED TO MAINTAIN THE INTERIOR SURFACE SPACED FROM THE POLE TOP WHEN THE COVER IS IN PLACE, THE SPACER MEANS BEING A PLURALITY OF CONCENTRIC UNINTERRUPTED RAISED ANNULAR RINGS PROJECTING FROM THE INTERIOR SURFACE OF THE 